What is an E-commerce Platform?

An e-commerce platform serves as a digital marketplace where suppliers and consumers engage in online transactions. Although it may sound abstract, e-commerce revolves around buying and selling goods or services through the internet. Suppliers showcase their products, slogan or services, while consumers find essential items through channels. The e-commerce platform facilitates communication, negotiation, and transactions between the two parties. By digitizing inventory and sales data, e-commerce platforms enable buyers to understand product availability and popularity, while sellers can easily track revenue and sales performance.

Further Reading: What is e-commerce? Key points for e-commerce marketing!

Before joining the e-commerce sector, one must choose a method for opening an online store. Based on technical capabilities, e-commerce platforms are categorized as self-hosted, online marketplace, or channel platforms. Sellers can choose the most suitable platform based on their abilities and the requirements of their online stores. Customized, flexible e-commerce platforms often require professional website development skills or higher outsourcing costs. Platforms that do not require sellers to maintain website operations may have platform-specific regulations and more restrictions.

Self-hosted E-commerce Platforms

Self-hosted e-commerce platforms are those developed by sellers or commissioned to professionals . These platforms allow customization of webpage design, web traffic analysis, or tracking user actions in online stores according to seller requirements. However, they typically have higher technical thresholds, and outsourcing development to professionals incurs high costs and requires self-updating and maintenance of the e-commerce platform. Although there are simpler free tools for setting up e-commerce platforms, such as WordPress and Wix, they still require time to learn how to use, increasing the burden on entrepreneurs.

Online Marketplace Platforms

Online marketplace platforms provide sellers with e-commerce platform templates and interfaces from relevant suppliers . Sellers can choose platform providers that match their online store styles and functional requirements, without the need for self-maintenance and updating of websites, only responsible for sales processes such as listing and modifying products, product descriptions .

Some platform providers offer membership systems, payment systems, etc., allowing sellers to easily obtain fully functional online stores. However, sometimes sellers may encounter situations where platform providers do not have relevant systems to meet their needs.

Channel Platforms

Channel platforms refer to platforms specializing in e-commerce , providing various products for major brands or individual enterprises to sell, such as Alibaba, Amazon, and Shopee. Sellers can list products on well-known channel platforms with large traffic and customers. When buyers search for desired products, the platform recommends related products to reach more potential customers. Although these e-commerce platforms can quickly accumulate sales volume, the competition is fierce, and compliance with platform rules is required.

With a multitude of e-commerce platforms available, each offering different online store tools and professional systems, it is crucial for novice e-commerce entrepreneurs to understand the unique features of each platform. Below are the top 5 e-commerce platforms based on search traffic.

Shopline

(Image Source: Shopline )

Shopline is an e-commerce platform based in Hong Kong, offering a comprehensive e-commerce operation system. Its services cover various Asian regions including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia, making it suitable for cross-border e-commerce operators.

Shopline’s key feature lies in its user-friendly interface, where sellers can design their online stores using templates and drag-and-drop tools without the need for programming skills. It provides comprehensive e-commerce functionality, including SEO marketing to increase store visibility, integration with social media for e-commerce, incorporating chatbots for message integration, and POS system integration for inventory and data management.

Shopify

(Image Source: Shopify )

Shopify, based in Canada, provides multiple languages and transaction currencies, serving regions such as the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and India, making it suitable for sellers looking to expand into international markets.

Shopify stands out for its diverse range of tools, including a business card maker and payroll details generator. In addition to sales functions, it can also integrate with ERP systems for streamlined data management across departments, aiding e-commerce entrepreneurship and meeting various e-commerce needs. For users unfamiliar with its operation, Shopline offers a variety of tutorial resources through its community and YouTube channel, as well as webinars to address user queries related to Shopline tools or e-commerce entrepreneurship.

Easystore

(Image Source: Easystore )

EasyStore, based in Malaysia, adopts a philosophy of integrated and managed omnichannel sales, creating a comprehensive e-commerce platform for sellers. It not only focuses on selling products but also integrates with social media and live streaming to attract potential customers.

EasyStore’s highlight is its provision of various digital tools, enabling smooth online store setup for e-commerce entrepreneurs. It allows sellers to create integrated marketing strategies, streamlining sales management systems for warehousing and personnel management, and integrating membership systems to stabilize customer bases.

Cyberbiz

(Image Source: Cyberbiz )

Cyberbiz, based in Taiwan, offers relatively affordable prices and provides various solutions to e-commerce challenges, ranging from advertising schemes and intelligent online stores to e-commerce operation outsourcing, catering to various needs of e-commerce entrepreneurship.

Cyberbiz’s standout feature lies in its OMO (Online Merges Offline) integration for sales volume and inventory data, as well as professional e-commerce consultants available for e-commerce-related inquiries. It facilitates integration with various third-party platforms and services, making payment and logistics management hassle-free.

Meepshop

(Image Source: Meepshop )

Meepshop, based in Taiwan, emphasizes one-page storefronts. After establishing an official website image, sellers can directly list products on the online store to attract potential customers. It utilizes a membership point system to retain customers and offers a referral system, providing group purchase discounts to encourage existing customers to bring in new ones.

Meepshop’s key feature is its simplicity of operation and provision of various marketing tools to attract and retain customers. Moreover, purchasing premium packages incurs no platform fees, allowing profits to increase proportionally with sales volume, significantly reducing seller costs.

E-commerce platforms offer rich functionalities and systems. When choosing an e-commerce platform, factors to consider include:

Online Store Style

Different e-commerce platforms may offer various templates and design styles. Some platforms provide flexible design features, offering more customization options for sellers to create unique online stores. Therefore, if you value website design and brand image, you may choose an e-commerce platform with rich templates or customizable functions.

Online Platform Functionality

E-commerce platforms provide a diverse range of functionalities, from personnel and logistics management to marketing tools, including product management, order processing, payment systems, customer data, etc. You can determine which functionalities are indispensable for your online store business and choose an e-commerce platform that best meets your online store’s needs.

Cost

Some e-commerce platforms charge based on the number of orders, some based on feature usage, and some offer free trials for sellers. Therefore, carefully evaluate your budget and requirements to choose an e-commerce platform that is cost-effective and offers high value for money.

Integration with Third-Party Applications

Whether the e-commerce platform can integrate with third-party applications is an important factor in choosing an e-commerce platform. Some professional tools can assist in online store management and traffic analysis, such as GA4 and GTM. These tools are essential for SEO marketing of online stores. Of course, you can also first confirm whether the e-commerce platform provides similar effective systems or functionalities.

Once you've chosen your e-commerce platform, you can also use tools like article generator to come up with brand and product copy.

In comparison to physical storefronts, e-commerce platforms require less expenditure to maintain operations. Operating online means businesses can essentially operate 24/7, allowing buyers to browse and make purchases even when sellers are offline, providing consumers with convenient shopping experiences. Additionally, e-commerce platforms save costs and time for suppliers. Some sellers restock or begin production after receiving orders, reducing expenditure. Below is a comparison table illustrating the differences between e-commerce platforms and physical storefronts:

With the rise of e-commerce, there has been an increase in e-commerce scam cases, such as impersonating well-known e-commerce platforms to obtain personal information, or fabricating issues with money transfers, luring sellers or buyers to enter credit card information on third-party websites, leading to credit card fraud. While buying and selling goods online is convenient, it is essential to verify the safety of website domains and check the ratings of buyers or sellers to avoid falling into e-commerce platform scam traps.

GenApe is a recommended e-commerce marketing tool. It does not require system installation or integration with third-party platforms. Simply input keywords to generate SEO-friendly product page titles and meta descriptions, saving a significant amount of time and cost. Additionally, it enhances product exposure through natural search results. GenApe is an indispensable AI marketing tool for e-commerce professionals. Click the button below to start your free trial now.

Try GenApe Now: https://app.genape.ai/seoProductPage